Question

Approximate the Sun as a uniform sphere of radius 6.96 X 108 m, rotating about its central axis with a period of 25.4 days. Suppose that, at the end of its life, the Sun collapses inward to form a uniform dwarf star that is approximately the same size as Earth. Use the average radius of Earth in your calculations.
Part A
What will the period of the dwarf's rotation be?
T = ?

Answer 1

Answer:

T = 184 seconds

Explanation:

First in order to solve this, we need to know which is the expression to calculate the period. This is an exercise of angular velocity, so:

T = 2π/w

Where w: angular speed (in rad/s)

So, let's calculate first the innitial angular speed:

w = 2π/T

Converting days to seconds:

25.4 days * 24 h/day * 3600 s/h = 2,194,560 s

Then the angular speed:

w = 2π / 2,194,560 = 2.863x10^-6 rad/s

Now, the innitial angular momentum is:

I = (2/5)Mr² replacing data:

I = 2/5* (6.96x10^8)² * M = 1.94x10^17m² * M

so the initial angular momentum would be:

L = Iω = 2.863x10^-6 * 1.94x10^17 M

L = 5.55x10^11 m²/s * M = final angular momentum

Now the  final I = 2/5Mr²

Final I = 2/5 * (6.37x10^6)² * M  = 1.62x10^13m² * M

Then 5.55x10^11m²/s * M = 1.62x10^13m² * M * ω → M cancels

ω = 3.42x10^-2 rad/s

Then the new period

T = 2π/ω = 2*3.14 / 3.42x10^-2

T = 184 seconds